Israel backs U.S. offer on Iran nuclear standoff

JERUSALEM, May 31 (Reuters) Israel said today it supported Washington's offer to join key European powers in negotiating with Iran if it suspends sensitive atomic work.

Israel, thought to have the only atomic arsenal in the Middle East, has long called for tough action from its U.S. ally against arch-foe Iran, accusing it of seeking nuclear weapons.

''Israel appreciates the steps and measures by the United States in continuing to lead the international coalition and in taking all necessary steps to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capability,'' Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in a statement.

''Israel supports the efforts of the United States on this matter,'' the statement said, adding that U.S. Condoleezza Rice, who announced the talks initiative, had briefed Livni beforehand.

Iran says it only wants nuclear technology to generate electricity.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stoked tensions with Israel by calling the Jewish state a ''tumour'' which should be ''wiped off the map''.

REUTERS CH KP0001